BeansTALK! A Beantown Bedding Blog

This article originally appeared in The News Record, University of Cincinnati's independent, student-run newspaper. Access the full article here.

Recycling and eco-friendly living have grown popular in the U.S. over the past couple of decades. As scientific research about pollution rolls in, people have become more conscious about their choices, from biking to work to carrying a refillable bottle.

Living sustainably may seem like an unreachable goal for college students — especially those who live in dorms, where it often feels like every decision has already been made.

So, what can students do to decrease their carbon footprint? Check out the list below for some tips on how to live more eco-consciously.

Reconsider your method of transportation

If you want to live sustainably, be mindful about the transportation options you choose. Biking, walking and ride-sharing are all great ways to reduce your carbon footprint. The university even offers bike rentals for students through the Bike Kitchen, located at 101 W Daniels St. on the University of Cincinnati’s Uptown campus.

"We have a fleet of about 26 bikes that are free,” said Daniel Hart, sustainability coordinator at UC Sustainability. “It’s called the Bearcat Bike Share for students, staff, and faculty to check out [bikes] for up to a week.”

This time of year college students fill the football stadiums, rush fraternities and sororities, and of course, study for exams—but they’re not hanging out in the laundry room!

No one knows this better than Beantown Bedding Co-Founders Joan Ripple and Kirsten Lambert, two moms who learned that most college kids get a failing grade when it comes to washing their bed sheets. Their solution? Laundry-Free Linens®...biodegradable bed sheets that can be composted or discarded instead of laundered.

Beantown Bedding announced a new partnership with Target this week that will put its Laundry-Free Linens® on shelves for students—and with an estimated 150,000 college students set to return to Boston, the timing couldn’t be better. It’s part of Target’s localization strategy to deliver a locally relevant, personalized experience for guests. Target’s CEO Brian Cornell explained the Boston Fenway store’s role in the new strategy to the Associated Press last year: “It's a great example of localized marketing…great local assortment of merchandise that tells our guests we understand we're in their hometown.”

As high school graduation season approaches, one of the biggest questions for friends and family is what to get the soon-to-be college freshman in their lives. It's hard to find a gift that's unique, shows that you care and will actually be used (rather than left back home on a shelf collecting dust.)

Beantown Bedding’s Laundry-Free Linens® are the ultimate graduation gift—clean sheetswithout the laundry. The only product of its kind, these sheets are made from plants, are incredibly soft and comfortable, and last for weeks. They're also hypoallergenic and free of chemicals and dyes. Best of all, they're completely compostable which means they’re disposable without the guilt! Laundry-Free Linens® break down completely and return to nature in as little as two weeks.

Let’s face it, college kids don’t take the time to wash their dirty sheets. There are just way too many better things to do with their time, like go to class (seriously!), participate in extracurriculars, work out and most importantly…socialize! Freshman year in particular is a whirlwind and the last thing college kids want to do is spend their time in the laundry room. Unfortunately, dirty sheets become breeding grounds for dust mites, allergens and bacteria—making them welcome mats for the latest dorm infestation. Sick kids mean missed classes, and it all goes downhill from there.

Three days before my son was scheduled to leave for college 300 miles away, it hit me that it meant he would actually no longer be living with us. One less place setting on the dinner table and an empty bed upstairs. I burst into tears at this sudden revelation and wondered how I hadn’t thought about this before. What was I thinking all summer long as we excitedly shopped the back to school lists, making sure he had everything and anything he could possibly ever need for the rest of his life. I must have been in a state of denial thinking that even though he was going to college, he would still be home for dinner and sleep in his own bed every night. Needless to say I cried for two days straight.

Hiding my emotional collapse from the rest of the family was not easy, but with the unexpected heart-pounding realization that my life would never be the same again, I felt helpless. In a weak attempt, I froze teaspoons to use on my puffy eyes and had to wear my old eye glasses—the ones I got when I was in college with the loose lens that fell out whenever I looked down—because my contacts kept getting clouded up from the tears. Hopefully, no one noticed.

Clean Sheets. No Laundry!

Laundry-Free Linens® are easy and eco-friendly! These innovative disposable sheets are remarkably comfortable and last for weeks. Simply use and discard. They're 100% Biobased, biodegradable and even compostable!